What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Leicester has the most affordable homes ($310k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mendon	Leicester
People
Population	1,113Highest	1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	-10%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT	48.8±3.8Lowest 13% above VT
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	14.9%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Leicester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4%	24.5%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT	$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT	$309,700±$107kLowest about the VT average
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average	$1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,342Highest 6% above VT	$3,822Lowest 24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4%	33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	11.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 28% below VT	28 minHighest 20% above VT
Work from home	22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%	12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Mendon and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.